Graduation is a pivotal moment in every student’s life. All the blood, sweat, and tears they colored into the lines of their high school career finally amounts to a moment where they can sit back, relax, and appreciate the picture they’ve created. Yes, graduation is about reminiscing and recognizing the good, the bad, and the ugly of high school, but more importantly it’s about looking forward to the opportunities and adventures that the future holds. 

After facing the destruction of hurricane Milton, St. Petersburg High School was forced to switch their class of 2025 graduation from Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg to the BayCare Sound in Coachman Park, Clearwater on May 29th at 7:30pm. With this being a distinct change from previous SPHS graduations, teachers and students have come to a consensus on their feelings regarding this year’s graduation.

Due to the late start time, many seniors’ most pressing concerns center around finding the right time to take photos and organizing dinner plans with their families. Because graduation will start at 7:30pm, the sun will set within an hour after the graduation’s commencement (too dark to take photos). By the time the ceremony finishes, it may be too late to go out to dinner, or make it to family favorites that serve the neighborhoods surrounding SPHS. These, although small in comparison to other conflicts, are two more variables that seniors and their families must address to make the class of 2025 graduation night a success.

When asked how the change in the time and location of this year’s commencement was going to impact her perception of graduation, Ena Trakilovic offers, “graduation is a symbol of my hard work, sure, but also a final memory with the people I’ve spent countless hours with for the last four years. After walking that stage we enter basically a new life with new people and some people we saw every day we might never see again. The date and time doesn’t change my perception of this, if anything the fact that it’s different only builds that bond closer in a way.” To build upon Ena’s outlook, the new graduation venue seems to add another layer of excitement to a day that has been very routine for several years. It fits right into the themes of this school year—changes, challenges to overcome, and even more reason to celebrate perseverance. Similarly, Maggie Moore claims that graduating “means I completed the IB program which was really hard and the time change [of graduation] makes no difference.”

However, some seniors hold a different perspective on this year’s graduation ceremony. Stephanie Gielazyn says, “I was disappointed to hear about the new location since I feel that it is a rite of passage in our area to graduate at the Tropicana Field.” Tradition is a pillar of St. Petersburg High School, and to some Senior class students, that tradition carries through to a graduation ceremony at an iconic St. Petersburg landmark. Alana Smith presents, “I have slight concerns about the number of family members that will be able to attend, the weather situation, and the ability for viewing in general. I understood that graduation would be different from the previous year…The time is just the biggest issue and the number of people.” Floridians know that weather conditions in late May will undoubtedly bring heat, humidity, a likelihood of rain and mosquitoes. Adding those to the other unknown factors like driving to a further location, unknown parking options, and  a late ceremony start time can bring added stress to a day that should focus on release of stress.

The tentative plan for the future according to SPHS seniors is to enjoy the summer with family and friends and prepare for their next steps in life. But to dive deeper, Ena Trakilovic entends, “I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends in their caps and gowns, I’m looking forward to the grad party, and I know that the next day I am leaving for Europe for two months so I’m looking forward to those final high school memories since I have some really close friends starting college in the summer and others that are parting ways to different countries or states entirely. I know it will be a bittersweet moment but those 12 hours between walking the stage and getting on that flight will be the most eventful hours of my life filled with so many emotions.”

For teachers, graduation is an end-of-the-year event in which their attendance is required. For SPHS art teacher, Ms. Koral graduation is one of her favorite parts about the SPHS school year. Ms. Koral offers, “I love going to graduation and I agree that it should be mandatory. I think it is important to have all of the teachers and staff support the students, and I look forward to it every year.” The BayCare Sound center is an outdoor arena which differs from the typical indoor stadium environment of Tropicana Field. And although seniors have shown concern about the weather with graduation being outdoors this year, Ms. Koral says, “I think it’s unfortunate that St. Pete. High graduates will not be graduating from the Trop this year because it’s a pretty iconic destination, however I am looking forward to the new location of BayCare Sound which is on the water so it will be really nice…and I think we got really lucky with the time slot being in the evening so it’s not going be to too hot.” For SPHS teachers, graduation is just as enjoyable for them as it is for the graduates. Ms. Koral supposes, “my favorite part is the processional when we walk out, and the teachers lead all of the kids out and we all get to wear all of our own education degrees and master’s and undergraduate gowns and then just seeing the kids and the parents and how proud they are and how excited the kids are.”

Although the class of 2025’s graduation breaks the tradition of holding the ceremony at Tropicana Field, it sets them apart from every other graduating class, which ultimately brings them closer together. It is a reflection of the atrocities—as a result of Hurricane Milton—that students in Florida have faced and been forced to compromise with. If anything, the differences in this year’s graduation act as a representation of perseverance and growth in the face of adversity; making the best of all setbacks to push through into a future of endless possibilities.